Air supply device



July 4, 1933.

J. .1. DUBINA 1,916,257

AIR SUPPLY DEVICE Filed April 9, 1952 ZZZ/Haw.

Patented July 4, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOHN J'. DUBINA, OF CICERO, ILLINOIS AIR SUPPLY DEVICE Application filed April 9,

This invention relates to an air supply device, and particularly to a device of the character described which is adapted to control an auxiliary supply of air to the intake mani- 5 fold of an internal combustion engine.

One object of the presentinvention is toprovide an air supply device which is actuated and controlled by and in accordance with the suction produced-in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. Another object of the invention is to provide an air supply device actuated and controlled by and in accordance with the suction produced in the cylinders of an engine, and having means operatively related to carburetor control means for rendering the suction of the engine inoperative to actuate said air supply device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air supply device having a valve adapted to be opened by vacuum caused by the suction in the cylinders of an engine to admit air to an intake manifold and having a relief valve associated therewith and operatively related to carburetor control means for breaking the vacuum and rendering the valve inoperative to admit air to the manifold.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air supply device having a valve adapted to be opened to admitair to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said valve having means associated therewith for varying the effective opening o in the valve seat according to the position of the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air supply device having a valve adapted to be opened by vacuum for admitting air to an intake manifold, and wherein the suction in the manifold will act to seat the valve when said vacuum is broken. A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of the character described in sundry details hereinafter referred to and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Qne embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which 1932. Seria1 No.604, 167.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an intake manifold and carburetor control associated therewith illustrating the application of my improved air supply device thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sec- 55 tional elevation through a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 thereof; and a Fig. 4 is a sectional end view of the structure shown in Fig. 2 and taken substantially as indicated by the line 44 thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises a tubular housing 5 having an end wall 6 rigid ly secured thereto at one end thereof and an end wall 7 rigidly secured in the opposite end of the housing, the end wall 7, in the present instance, having radially disposed grooves formed therein to provide air inlet ports 8 for the admission of air into one end of the housing 5.

Rigidlyinounted in the end wall 7 preferably adjacent the central portion thereof is a hollow tubular member 9 having screw threads 10 adjacent its outer end portion adapted to be screw-threaded into an open ing 11 formed in an intake manifold 12of an internal combustion engine as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Slidablymounted in the housing 5'is a valve, indicated as awhole by the numeral 13 which comprises a body portion 14 hav ing a hollow guide portion 15 secured thereto and slidably mounted in the housing 5, thus providing a vacuum chamber in the housing 5 between the body portion 14 of the valve and the end wall 6. Mounted in the body member 14 preferably adjacent the central'portion thereof is an elongated valve stem 16 having its outer end tapered and extending into the hollow tubular member 9, and surrounding the stem 16 between the end Wall 7 and body portion 14 is a valve ring 17 adapted to close the inner end of the membe! 9 to prevent the passage of air therethrough, the ring 17 being adapted to move with the valve 13 and stem 16 when the latter are moved longitudinally of the housing 5.

For yieldingly maintaining the valve ring 17 on its seat, a string 17a is suitably mounted within the housing 5 and positioned between the body portion 14 and end wall 6.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the effective opening in the hollow member 9 is varied by the tapered portion of the valve stem 16 according to the position of the valve 13 with respect to its seat, and that when the valve is removedfrom its seat against the action of the spring 17a, air may pass through the ports 8 and through the hollow tubular member 9 into themanifold 12 under the influence of suction created within the manifold.

For moving the valve 13 longitudinally of the housing 5 to permit air to enter the manifold 12 through the member 9,-a T-fitting 18 is mounted in the member 6 having .one end of a suction tube 19 of relatively small capacity communicating with one end thereof, and the opposite end of the tube communicating with the interior of the manifold 12 at a point removed from the opening 11 as indicated at 20.

Operatively connected to the opposite end of the T-fitting 18 is one end of a conduit 21 of relatively greater capacity, the opposite end of the conduit being provided with a normally closed relief valve or cover member 22 shown, in the present instance, as pivotally mounted at 23 and having a. laterally extending arm 24 adapted to lie in the path of movement of a carburetor control means shown, in the present instance, as a throttle lever 25, the arrangement being such that as the lever 25 is moved to a throttled-down position, the lever will engage the arm 24 and swing the valve 22 about its pivot 23 against the action of the spring 23a to open the end of the conduit 21 and admit air thereto.

Formaintaining the relief valve 22 and arm 24 in desired position with respect to the throttle lever 25, a bracket 26 may be suitably mounted on a portion ofthe manifold and adapted to be secured to the conduit 21 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and for controlling the position of the throttle lever 25, a rod 27 or other suitable means may be connected thereto at one of its ends, and at its opposite end to suitable manually actuated means (not shown) by which the operation of the throttle valve may be controlled.

It will be observed thatby such 'an arrangement, when the relief valve 22 is closed, the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine will draw air through the tube 19 and create a vacuum Within the housing 5 to draw the valve 13 from its seat against the action of the spring 17 1, thereby permitting air to pass into the manifold 12 through the hollow member 9, the movement of the valve permitting air to enter the conduit 21 and break the vacuum produced within the hous ing 5, thus permitting the valve 13 to close under the action of the spring 17a and preventing further admission of air to the manifold 12 through the hollow member 9.

Owing to the relatively small capacity of the tube 19, the admission of air through the conduit 21 to break the vacuum in the hous ing 5 will have no appreciable effect on the combustible mixture being drawn into the engine cylinder through the carburetor and manifold 12, yet thetube 19 is of sufiicient size to produce the required vacuum in the housing for actuating the valve 13. Further- I more, when the vacuum in the housing 5 is broken and the valve 13 has been sealed by the spring 17 a, the suction within the manifold 12 serves to urge the valve toward its seat until a vacuum is again established within the housing 5 by the closing of the relief valve 22.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows: 'In starting, with the throttle lever 25 in its throttle-downposition and the relief valve 22 open, the valve 13 will be closed and the carburetor permitted to function in the usual way to supply sufficient combustible mixtureto the engine cylinders. After starting, however, and as the throttle lever 25 is moved away from the arm 24, the relief valve 22 will close'under the action of the spring 2311 and prevent the passage of air through the conduit 21, and as the engine obtains a suitable speed, the suction on the intake strokes of the engine pistons will cause a vacuum in the housing 5 to move the valve 13 away from its seat against the action of the spring 17a in accordance with the degree of suction in the cylinders and the amount of vacuum produced in the housing, thereby permltting air to pass through the ports 8 and the hollow member 9 into the manifold,

theefiective opening of the member 9 being varied by the tapered stem 16 according to the position of the valve 13 with respect to its seat; It will be observed that by such operatl on, a suitable amount of additional air is added to the combustible mixture being drawn through the manifold 12, thereby creating a leaner mixture and resulting in a saving of gas required for the operation of the engine.

As the engine is throttled down to substantially idling speed, the lever 25 will engage the arm 24, thereby unseating the relief valve 22 and permitting air to be drawn through the conduit 21, thus breaking the vacuum in the housing and permitting the spring 17a to seat thevalve 13 and prevent further pas- 5 sage of air through the hollow member 9 into the manifold.

During rapid acceleration or when the engine is pulling, as on a heavy grade, and the suction in the engine cylinders is not so great, the valve 13 will open only to the extent of the vacuum created within the housing 5 which, under extreme conditions, may be none at all, thereby permitting the carburetor to supply suficient fuel for the proper functioning of the engine, but as soon as the excessive load is overcome and the suction in the engine cylinders increases, the vacuum in the housing 5 will be increased and the valve 13 opened accordingly to permit a suitable supply of air to be drawn into the manifold through the ports 8 and members 9.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same the features of the invention need not be used conjointly, as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 13 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve operatively related to the intake manifold of an internal combus tion engine for controlling the passage of air thereto. means communicating with said manifold and operatively related to said valve for opening the valve by and according to the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine, and means for rendering said suction inoperative to open said valve, said last mentioned means comprising a second valve adapted to be engaged by the control means of a carburetor associated with said m-ani fold, and a conduit operatively related to said second valve and to said first mentioned means.-

- 2. In a device of the class described, a housing communicating with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve in said hous ng for controlling the passage of air to said manifold, a tube communicating with said housing and manifold for opening the valve by and according to the suction produced in the cylinders of the en gine, and a relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by'the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold in a manner to render said suo-. tion inoperative toopen said air valve.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing communicating with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve in said housing for controlling the pasmay be variously modified. Moreover, all

sage of air to said manifold, a tube communicating with said housing and manifold 'in a manner to produce'a vacuum in the housing for opening said valve by and accord ing to the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine, and a relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be'opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifolddn a manner to 4. In a device of the class described, a housing communicating adjacent one of its ends with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve in said housing for controlling the passage of air to said manifold, a tube communicating with said housing adjacent its opposite end and with said manifold in a manner to produce a vacuum in the housing for opening said valve by and according to the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine, and a relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by the controlmeans of a carburetor associated with said manifold in a manner to break the vacuum in said housing and render said suction inoperative to open said air valve.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having air inlet ports and a vacuum chamber formed therein, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve mounted in said housing for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member, a tube conimunicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a'relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

65. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having air inlet ports and a vacuum chamber formed therein, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve mounted in said housing between said ports and chamber for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member, means for normally urging said valve toward its seat, a tube communicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a relief valve operatively re lated to said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having air inlet ports adjacent one of its end portions and a vacuum chamber formed in the housing adjacent its 0 posite end portion, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve mounted in said housing between said ports and said chamber for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member, vmeans for nornially urging said valve toward its seat, a tube communicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a normally closed relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having air inlet ports adjacent one of its ends portions and a vacuum chamber formed in the housing adjacent its opposite end portion, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve slidably mountedin said housing between said ports and chamber for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member, yielding means for normal-11y urging said valve toward its seat, a tube communicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a normally closed spring-actuated relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor assoclated with said manifold. I

9. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having air inlet ports adjacent one of its end portions and a vacuum chamber formed in the housing adjacent its opposite end portion, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve having a guide portion slidably mounted in said housing between said ports and said chamber for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member, yielding means mounted in said chamber for normallyurging said valve toward its "seat, a tube communicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a normally closed spring-actuated relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened -py the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

10. A device of the class described, com.- prising a housing having air inlet ports and a vacuum chamber formed therein, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve mounted in said housing for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member, said valve having a tapered stem carried thereby for varying the effective opening through said hollow member according to the position of said valve, a tubecommunicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means (fif (a carburetor associated with said mani- 11. A device of the class described, comrising a housing having air inlet ports adacent one of its end portions and a vacuum chamber formed in the housing adjacent its opposite end portion, a hollow member for connecting said housing with the interior-of a manifold, a valve mounted in said housing between said ports and chamber for controlling the pamage of air through said hollow member, said valve having an elongated tapered stem extending into said hollow member for varying the effective opening therethrough according to the position of said valve with respect to its seat, means for normally urging said valve toward its seat, a tube communicating with said chamber and with said manifold, and a normally closed relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

12. A device of the class described, comprising a housing having air inlet ports adjacent one of its end portions and a vacuum chamber formed in the housing adjacent its opposite end portion, a hollow member adj acent said ports for connecting said housing with the interior of a manifold, a valve having a guide portion slidably mounted in said housing and separating said ports from said chamber, said valve being provided. for controlling the passage of air through said hollow member and having an elongated tapered stem for varying the elfective opening through the member according to the position of the valve with respect to its seat, yielding means for normally urging said valve toward its seat, a tube of relatively small capacity communicating with said chamber and with said manifold, a conduit of relatively larger capacity communicating at one of its ends with said chamber, and a spring-actuated relief valve adapted to normally close the opposite end of said conduit and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

13. In a, device of the class described, a housing communicating adjacentone of its ends with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said housing having a vacuum chamber formed therein adjacent its opposite end, a valve in said housing for controlling the passage of air to said manifold, a tube communicating with said chamber and with said manifold in a manner to produce I a vacuum in the chamber for opening said valve by and according to the amount of vacuum in said chamber, and a relief valve operatively relatedto said tube and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold in a manner to break the vacuum in said chamber and permit the air valve to close, and to render the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine operative to urge said air valve toward its seat.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve operatively related to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine for controlling the passage of air thereto, means having a passage communicating with said manifold and operatively related to said valve for opening the valve by and according to the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine, and means for rendering said suction inoperative to open said valve, said last mentioned means comprising a second valve operatively related to said passage and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

15. In a device of the class described, a housing communicating adjacent one of its ends with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, a valve in said housing for controlling the passage of airto said manifold, a tube communicating with said housing adjacent its opposite end and with said manifold in a manner to produce a vacuum in the housing for opening said valve by and according to the suction produced in the cylinders of the engine and against the action of the suction at the manifold end of said housing, and a relief valve operatively related to said tube and adapted to be opened.

by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold in a manner to break the vacuum in said housing and render said suction inoperative to open said air valve.

16. A device of the class described, comprising a housing adapted to communicate with the interior of an intake manifold, said housing having an air inlet port and a vacuum chamber formed therein, a valve mounted in said housing for controlling the passage of air through said port and to said manifold, means having a passage communicating with said vacuum chamber and adapted to communicate with said manifold, and a relief valve operativcly related to said passage and adapted to be opened by the control means of a carburetor associated with said manifold.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5 day of April A. 1)., 1932.,

JOHN J. DUBINA. 

